Christmas tree lights

ABSTRACT

A supporting socket for displaying a fluorescent lamp on a Christmas tree. This lamp support comprises a pair of fluorescent sockets mounted on a plate having a plurality of prongs for grasping the branches of the Christmas tree.

United States Patent Vin Dick [45] July 11, 1972 s41 CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS 2,299,733 10/1942 Benander ..240/1o T [72] Inventor: hm Vin Dick, H56 N802. pflgfim 2,244,516 6/1941 Davis ..240/10 Road Menomonee Falls Wis 53051 2,482,656 9/1949 Conroy et al... ...240/l0TX 3,321,730 5/1967 Schlangen ...240/l0T X [22] Filed: May 18, 1970 2,915,620 12/1959 Robinson ..240/l0T APPL 381583 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS pp ication mu 1,028,654 4/1958 Germany ..339/so c [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 759,083, Sept. 11, I968,

abandoned. Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun 521 0.8. 01 ..24o/1o T, 240151.12 e n W658i? Whites [51] lnLCI. ..A47g33/l6,F21pl/02 58 FieldoiSearch.... .....240/l0R, l0T,5l.l2,59, ABSTRACT 240/6'4 339/50 97 L A supporting socket for displaying a fluorescent lamp on a Christmas tree. This lamp support comprises a pair of [56] References Cited fluorescent sockets mounted on a plate having a plurality of UNITED STATES PATENTS prongs for grasping the branches of the Christmas tree.

2,510,323 6/1950 Taborski ..240/6.4 W X 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL H 1972 3 676 662 Fig.1

2/ #43 To O TO Ll LAMPS F50 NE & STARTERS F .3 INVENTOR.

'] James 14?; Dick CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS This is a continuation of my earlier co-pending application Ser. No. 759,083, filed Sept. ll, l968 now abandoned, and entitled Christmas Tree Light."

This invention provides fluorescent lamp sockets and supports for ornamental Christmas trees.

Electric Christmas tree lamps are, of course, very old and well known. Usually, there is a strand of incandescent bulb sockets attached to an electric lamp wire which may be wound around or distributed over the tree. Very often, these sockets have an associated clip which facilitates an attachment of the sockets to the tree branches.

, There are a number of problems which may be encountered when these strands are used on or in connection with Christmas trees. One problem relates to the fire hazzards which result from hot bulbs, especially when used on a tree after it has dried out. Another problem relates to the relatively heavy current required to operate these incandescent lamps. As a result only a certain maximum number of bulbs may be used on any.given tree or at any given outlet.

One attractive solution to theproblem of using incandescent bulbs is to substitute fluorescent bulbs. They are cooler so that they present less fire hazzard. They draw less current when in operation. However, a fluorescent bulb is much heavier, and it requires a stronger tree to support it. The shape is awkward, and not given to easy manipulation in among the branches.

Aside from these mechanical, electrical, and safety considerations, a fluorescent bulb offers many opportunities for new and unusual decorative effects. The lamps may have surface decorations or attachments which contribute to the overall enhancement of the tree. Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide new and improved sockets for use in decorating Christmas trees.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Christmas tree lamp socket which frictionally engages the limbs of a Christmas tree in order to hold the lamp stationary.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluorescent Christmas tree lamp socket which makes it easy to insert or remove the bulb.

Another object is to provide a safe Christmas tree lighting. Here an object is to take advantage of the inherent quality of cooler fluorescent lighting.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a fluorescent Christmas tree lamp socket which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from a study of the following specifications together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a front elevation view of the inventive socket shown secured to a Christmas tree limb; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram showing the circuit to the lamps and their respective starters; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the circular fluorescent lamp, shown reduced in size and removed from the inventive socket disclosed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a circular fluorescent light bulb 10, the inventive socket l1, and a power cord 16. A plurality of the sockets 11 (not shown) may be placed at intervals along the cord 16,

as desired to decorate a Christmas tree.

The socket 11 has an arcuate section with a comb of V- shaped tines or teeth dependent therefrom. The socket may be made of plastic or other suitable material. The arcuate section follows the same general contour as the circular bulb 10. The open ends 12 of socket 11 coincide in shape and contour with the cross-section of the ends of the fluorescent bulb 10. These ends are notched, as at 14, to provide a means for an insertion of the bulb terminals 15 at the capped ends 13 of the lamp 10.

The socket 11 is provided with the plurality of tine or teethlike projections 17, having serrations or teeth 18 along the edges thereof. A central projection 19 is also formed on the socket 11 to allow for grasping and manipulation of the socket.

The sockets 11 are placed over the branches on the Christmas tree so that the tines or teeth 17 project alternately to lay on either side of branches 20. The bias naturally occurring from the elasticity of the tine members is selected so that the serrations tend to bite into the branch. Thus, the socket 11 is secured to the branches 20 in order t0 hold the lamp stationary on the tree.

In order to remove a lamp 10 from a socket 11, the lamp 10 is grasped in one hand while the socket is held in the other hand. The lamp is rotated upward to the horizontal position shown by dot-dashed lines. There the terminal pins 15 are aligned with the slots 14. Then the terminals 15 may be slipped side ways in order to remove lamPs 10 from sockets 11. In order to place lamp 10 in socket 11, the terminal pins 15 are slipped side ways into the slot 14, and rotation is in the opposite direction.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional electric line with a switch 21 for applying power to the bulbs.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, the attached claims are to cover all equivalents falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What I now claim is:

l. A Christmas tree light comprising a lamp cord having at least one fluorescent lamp socket associated therewith,

said socket having a first section with oppositely disposed end sockets arcuately positioned with respect to each other,

said arcuate positions corresponding to the general arc of a circular fluorescent bulb,

said sockets conforming generally to the cross-sectional dimensions of the ends of said circular fluorescent bulb between said lamp cord and said sockets,

and a comb of at least three teeth depending from said first section,

said teeth being spaced and shaped to fit over opposite sides of a Christmas tree branch.

2. The Christmas tree light of claim 1 and serrations on at least one of said teeth,

said serrations on said teeth being oriented to tend to bite into said branch responsive to the natural elasticity of said teeth when positioned over said branch.

3. The Christmas tree light of claim 2 and socket means comprising a slot for receiving a pair of pin terminals on the ends of said fluorescent lamp when said pins are aligned with said slot and for retaining said pin terminals when rotated by with respect to said slot. 

1. A Christmas tree light comprising a lamp cord having at least one fluorescent lamp socket associated therewith, said socket having a first section with oppositely disposed end sockets arcuately positioned with respect to each other, said arcuate positions corresponding to the general arc of a circular fluorescent bulb, said sockets conforming generally to the cross-sectional dimensions of the ends of said circular fluorescent bulb between said lamp cord and said sockets, and a comb of at least three teeth depending from said first section, said teeth being spaced and shaped to fit over opposite sides of a Christmas tree branch.
 2. The Christmas tree light of claim 1 and serrations on at least one of said teeth, said serrations on said teeth being oriented to tend to bite into said branch responsive to the natural elasticity of said teeth when positioned over said branch.
 3. The Christmas tree light of claim 2 and socket means comprising a slot for receiving a pair of pin terminals on the ends of said fluorescent lamp when said pins are aligned with said slot and for retaining said pin terminals when rotated by 90* with respect to said slot. 